Some “arthouse” films are subdued works designed for everything to be internal and multi-interpretive. Others have directors putting on a big and flashy show trying to externalize how clever they’re being. Swimming Pool maximizes both forms presenting a story with multiple ways of examination. Some will fail to see the vision when it’s all over; others will proclaim it as a subtle genius paralleling two lives through fiction and reality. Seeing all the angles for myself, unsure of the correct solution but aware of all the possibilities, the only conclusion I could come to was how I didn’t give a hot damn about any of them.

Sarah Morton (Charlotte Rampling) is an aging mystery novelist. With her publisher (Charles Dance) about to sign a new, younger breed to the firm, she takes him up on the offer to gather her inspiration at his country home in France. No distractions. No pressure. Just her and her thoughts. Until Julie arrives.

Julie (Ludivine Sagnier) is her boss’ daughter, a hot young thing ready for a new suitor every night. She’s messy, inconsiderate, bratty; in other words, a teenager. Nothing’s more disturbing to a writer than the shattered whispers of silence and when the concentration’s broken, if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em. If bonding is all it takes to get some peace and quiet, so be it. And what better way to bond then when fiction and reality meet at a deadly crossroads, to keep in tune with the newfound clichés of the film.

Swimming Pool doesn’t depend in such artifices to create a plot. It’s a late addition to a character study where one broods and the other acts out, prepared to tell you exactly what she’s thinking. What exactly the parallel is between the two is hinted at in scene after scene but may not trigger all the options until its final scene.

Rampling’s character implies herself on the wagon. The enjoyment of her solitude still only allows for large indulgences of yogurt. If Down with Love’s chocolate-for-sex substitute is to be taken at face value, then suddently you’re loking at a 50+ woman vicariously living through maybe a spitting image of her younger self while her sex appeal limits her beyond the men she could once attract. (A theory further cemented by a character played by an actress with Rapid Aging Syndrome.) That final iamge calls every reality into question as we wonder about the true history of Sarah’s relationship with her boss and exactly how much fiction has leaked into the audience’s perceptive reality of the story.

The other image that lingers is that of Ludivine Sagnier. Perhaps not the most naturally pretty of big screen sex objects; but an object of lust she certainly is. Normally I’ve not inclined to comment below the neckline, but director Francois Ozon has presented no choice since one-third of the footage consists of slow pans of her body, compromising positions with others (and her own hand) and enough topless shots to make you wonder if she’s ever heard of a tanktop. I realize I’ve just sold the movie to horny guys looking to gaze upon lustful teens everywhere, but just remember that you can lead a whore to drink, but she’ll make you pay for it.

Swimming Pool eases along its path like an afternoon at poolside; bright and colorful but not very productive clockwise. Interpret the outcome anyway you want, but while you pat yourself on the back for figuring it out and Ozon for constructing the puzzle, if you can well up a single emotion or care a bit about its characters than you took away more than I did. So grow old you hag. Slut away you young tramp. In the movie there may be a fantasy world where publishers believe you most personal work is your best, but it sure doesn’t translate into my reality.

OFFICIAL SELECTION: 2003 Edinburgh Film Festival. For more in the 2003 Edinburgh Film Festival series, click here.
OFFICIAL SELECTION: 2003 Sydney Film Festival. For more in the 2003 Sydney Film Festival series, click here.

User Comments

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9/29/10

aryan

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12/31/09

name

comment6,

9/15/09

alexk570

Very nice site!

1/15/07

David Pollastrini

Ludivine Sagnier is hot!

12/19/06

Charles Tatum

Sagnier is a joy to look at

12/04/06

Lynne

Intriging but found the ending unsatisfying.

6/27/06

popy

xxx

5/20/06

anil gurung

it is fantastic

12/19/05

Bree

This movie looked so cool and was very disappointed. Ending was okay though.

10/11/05

Morten

A movie that demands action from the viewer (needs to be interoperated to make sense).

8/09/05

kristen

interesting film

8/01/05

candence

I got sucked in because it looked interesting but the ending gave NO closure! MEANINGLESS!

5/27/05

mike

sexy chick, captivating story

5/26/05

Michael H. Korman

Great movie, the performances are fabuous, the ending twists into what?

4/30/05

Eleanor

Pretending to be smart. But does't change the fact that it's crap.

2/05/05

Cyn A. Matique

Great story, great cinematography, and tons of female full frontal nudity...a must see!

10/17/04

Pollo

Good photography, boring movie, interesting final.

10/11/04

Jim

very good

9/20/04

denny

interesting; challenging

9/20/04

Andy deGaust

Excellent, thought provoking story line

8/31/04

Jeff

The ending cheats you out of what would otherwise be a nice movie-watching experience